Sources: Contractor illegally dumped building debris in Monticello

MONTICELLO — State authorities were investigating an illegal dump site in a wooded area in Monticello and law enforcement sources say the perpetrator is the village’s own demolition contractor.

Multiple village sources say state police and Department of Environmental Conservation police were investigating the contractor that demolished village justice court and an unsafe Broadway building on Wednesday.

Sources say workers were stopped by authorities while trucking debris from the justice court site into the woods across from the Bethlehem Temple Church, off Fairground Road and near the intersection of Ripple Road. In the early afternoon, a state police car blocked a dirt access road and a trooper’s van drove up into the site. The debris couldn’t be seen from the road.

State police referred all questions to the DEC police.

DEC Spokeswoman Wendy Rosenbach said at this point it’s an ongoing investigation and “we are not releasing any information.”

On Wednesday, contractor Mike Soto and other workmen tore out the back side of the justice court building next to village hall.

“We do the job fast,” Soto said at the job site Wednesday.

Soto’s company stopped demolishing the court building after they were called over to tear down an unsafe Broadway building owned by developer Tommy Ting at 470 Broadway.

Soto’s company returned to the justice court on Thursday and demolished the front portion and were hauling debris away when work abruptly stopped before noon. In the afternoon, a large excavator sat idle on top of a debris pile.

Code Enforcement Officer James Snowden said he was speaking to Soto. He wouldn’t speculate on when the debris would be hauled off.

“I am working on it right now,” Snowden said. Snowden wouldn’t comment on the Fairground Road dump site.

Mayor Gordon Jenkins, the acting village manager, said Wednesday that he hired Soto to demolish the justice court for $5,000 after receiving quotes up to $21,000 for the job. Jenkins was out of town and couldn’t be reached for comment.

Trustee Carmen Rue complained on Wednesday and again on Thursday that Jenkins never got a formal authorization from the board to hire Soto. She said Jenkins was required to present three bids to the board for authorization by resolution. Jenkins said Wednesday the board had discussed the demolition project for months.

“This is going to cost the village thousands of dollars,” Rue said. “The DEC can fine the village a lot of money – Oh my God.”